My Instant Groom | KookJin ✔️

Ch. 2 - I Want to Escape

Seokjin

The sea breeze felt cold on my wet skin. My wet clothes clinging on my body as I unload from the boat that carried us from the dive site. The abalones that I got from the sea isn't much.

I didn't know my parents. They said they left me when I'm still 3 years old to an old lady. The old lady who took care of me was able to send me to school but after I graduated from grade school, I stopped. The old lady died and I needed to live on my own.

Our neighbor, Namjoon, brought me to a man they called 'Boss' who supplies abalone to the local restaurants that are packed with tourists. Namjoon, who is five years older than me, also used to work for Boss. Boss is not nice. He will starve us whenever we only have little catch. I guess I've been working for him for a long time now that hunger and exhaustion are already part of my daily life.

"What's that?" I asked Namjoon as I sit beside him. He's usually sitting on the huge rocks along the coastal line while reading.

"I'm reading an art book." He said smiling. His cute little dimples always flashed whenever he smiles.

"Artbook? Isn't that full of drawings?"

He chuckled while shaking his head. "No. This is more of what inspired the painter to paint his works."

I nodded. Namjoon can be a little deep. I cannot keep up with his knowledge. Since I only finished grade school, I am far from being knowledgeable. I only know how to read and write. They always call me a baby. Because they said I am so naive.

"Do you plan to go to college?" I asked. I am often curious about his plans. Namjoon loves studying and he always speaks about going to college.

"Of course. That's the only way to get out of this place." He said while closing the book in his hands. "I want to cross the island and go to Seoul."

Seoul. Everybody talks about Seoul. "I only saw Seoul in newspapers but I saw that there are lots of tall buildings there. I want to see one too."

Namjoon stared at the horizon. Living on an island makes all of its inhabitants hungry to go to the city and have a better life.

We live on a small island. We are surrounded by the sea. The tallest building in our island is up to three floors. The others are houses, inns, and some tourist destinations like seafood restaurants and diving sites.

The school here is just until high school. If you want to go to college, you need to ride a boat and travel for an hour to reach the nearest port, which is Busan. We only have a small clinic and the doctor only comes once a week so getting sick is somewhat prohibited.

Since I was born, I am stuck on this island. My skin tanned because of too much sun exposure. I can say that there's no progress here. You need to get out of this island if you want a better life.

"Have you been to Seoul?" I asked when I noticed that Namjoon became quiet.

He nodded. "Once." He pointed on a big boat docked on the side. "That boat will transport you from this island to Busan. From Busan, there are buses there that will bring you to Seoul."

"I want to go there too someday." I smiled.

(Reminder: Whenever I say that Jin smiled, I mean this Jin. Okay? 😌)

Namjoon gave me a reassuring smile. "I promise you, once I finished college, I will bring you to Seoul."

What Namjoon said gave me an unexplainable hope and joy. "Promise?" I stick my pinky finger out and waited for him to lock his own.

He did.

"I promise."

***

A small serving of rice and a small bowl of seaweed soup is my dinner for tonight. Since what I brought from the sea today was lesser than normal, Boss will align the meal based on what I caught. Less abalone, less serving of the meal.

"You're not working hard Jin." Boss raised his voice. He's always speaking on top of his lungs and my fellow divers are not paying much attention. Boss screaming and scolding us is an everyday scene in our staff house.

"The abalones aren't that many Boss. I'm sorry." I lowered my head. Admitting my fault even if it's not my fault is our first rule. This is to avoid further commotion and anger. I don't want to get beaten by a stick and get locked in a horse shed. I've slept there a lot of times. I'd rather sleep in a four-deck bed rather than sleep with horses and cows.

Boss yelled to everyone who did not even bother to look at him. They are busy eating the food Boss serves almost every day. Seaweed soup will be given to divers with a lesser catch while those who have plenty will be given a nicer meal, a fried mackerel.

Hoseok put a small piece of mackerel on my plate. He's lucky today as he caught a lot. "Have some baby. It's good." He whispered.

I mouthed thank you and ate the piece of fish on my plate. Hoseok is my best friend on this island. While Namjoon, I considered him as my big brother. They both take care of me. Though Namjoon isn't a diver anymore, he still never misses a day without asking if I am doing well.

"I wanted to go to Seoul," I said while peeking below my wooden bed. Hoseok's bed is below mine.

"I wanted to go there too but it's impossible. You know that Boss always monitors the boat." Hoseok sat down on the bed so we can talk even at a low voice. "I wanted to see tall buildings too. And I heard from the radio that they have malls there."

"Mall? What is that? Can you eat that?" I asked feeling excited about the new information I just heard.

Hoseok chuckled. "It's a building where you can buy clothes, there are restaurants inside, you can watch movies, and a lot more."

I can imagine what Hoseok is talking about. And it made me more excited. "Wow. Then that place must be really big."

Hoseok nodded while smiling widely. "Also, I saw from the newspaper that there's a coffee shop called Starbucks."

I pouted. "Coffee shop? But I can make my own coffee. One pouch with hot water is okay."

Hoseok laughed silently. "Baby Jinnie, they don't sell instant coffee there. They make coffee from scratch and they said it tastes delicious."

"Coffee tastes different in Seoul?"

Hoseok laughed and patted my head. "I love you Jinnie. Go to sleep now and we need to wake up early tomorrow."

I lie down in my bed and looked at the ceiling. I wanted to go there where I can see tall buildings, go to malls and drink coffee. I want that.

I looked down again below and saw Hoseok's eyes are already closed. "Hobi!" I silently scream.

Hoseok opened his eyes.

"Let's escape and ride the boat."

Hoseok's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?!"

I smiled. "I want to go to Seoul."

Hoseok shook his head. "Go to sleep."

I lie back down again. I've never been this determined to escape this place. I want to go to Seoul and I will do anything just to set my feet there.

As soon as possible.